Expand the possibilities of supporting innovative small companies and encourage investments in innovation in the country, especially in the strategic areas of Advanced Manufacturing and Internet of Things. This is the main objective of the agreement between the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) and the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), signed on October 3, at Palácio dos Bandeirantes, in São Paulo. . The ceremony was attended by Governor Geraldo Alckmin, Deputy Governor and Secretary for Economic Development, Science, Technology and Innovation, Márcio França, FAPESP President José Goldemberg, and BNDES President Paulo Rabello de Castro.
The cooperation agreement approximates the access of innovative emerging companies – which have already been supported under the FAPESP Innovative Research in Small Companies Program (PIPE) – to BNDES credit lines and variable income instruments (Investment Funds for Innovation) , based on an economic evaluation carried out by the Bank.
The agreement also allows for the articulation of actions between FAPESP and BNDES for specific projects, such as the Engineering Research Centers maintained by the Foundation in partnership with companies and research institutions. It is expected that, with the agreement, it will be possible to complement the instruments and actions of BNDES and FAPESP for the development of these centers.
“The agreement signed today is important because it helps us understand the process by which scientific and technological research gives rise to companies and economic development. The problem is that, as in the rest of the world, in the next phase of innovation, they have to survive the 'valley of death'. Now, with the agreement with BNDES, those that have developed technological feasibility will have the opportunity to access Bank resources to introduce their product on the market”, said Goldemberg.
In some cases, Goldemberg underlined, the development of new technologies requires a greater effort, which needs to be done in partnership with large companies, such as the Engineering Research Centers constituted by FAPESP and companies such as Shell, Peugeot Citroën, GSK , Statoil, Natura, among others, in cooperation with universities and research institutes.
The agreement provides for the joint evaluation of relevant technological focuses for the formulation of public policies and the coordination of efforts for investments in the country, such as the launch of joint calls for projects related to Research, Development and Innovation in Advanced Manufacturing and the Internet of Things.
Rabello de Castro highlighted that investment in innovation is one of BNDES' strategic priorities. “Investing in innovation is investing twice, as it is what drives and allows development. Research, together with education, is the investment with the best economic return to give back to society,” he said.
The agreement between FAPESP and BNDES is valid for five years and a work plan will be prepared to detail and monitor the activities.
“With this good partnership, many of these projects will be able to have products launched on the market. So, FAPESP's PIPE will have the support of BNDES, being able to expand its activities, for its good projects to prosper, its products to be launched, as well as the engineering centers. As a member of Santos, I can say that this partnership is like Pelé and Coutinho in stimulating innovation and the development of our state”, said Governor Geraldo Alckmin.
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